Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 24
नगरादिवास्तुकथनं
Discourse on Vāstu for Cities and Related Settlements
एकं याम्ये च सौमास्यं द्वे चेत् पश्चात् पुरोमुखम् चतुःशालन्तु साम्मुख्यात्तयोरिन्द्रेन्द्रमुक्तयोः
ekaṃ yāmye ca saumāsyaṃ dve cet paścāt puromukham catuḥśālantu sāmmukhyāttayorindrendramuktayoḥ
ในทิศยามยะ (ใต้) พึงมีช่อง/ประตูหนึ่ง และในทิศเสามยะ (เหนือ) พึงหันหน้าไปทางเหนือ หากมีสองช่อง ให้จัดหนึ่งหันตะวันตกและหนึ่งหันตะวันออก (หลัง–หน้า) แต่ในจตุศาลา (catuḥśālā) พึงให้หันประจันกัน; ผลเป็นสิริมงคลเกี่ยวกับอินทรา (อำนาจ) และความหลุดพ้นจากอินทรา (โมกษะ).
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa’s standard frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Door/opening orientation rules by cardinal direction and plan-type, used to optimize auspiciousness and functional circulation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Directional orientation of openings in 1-, 2-, and 4-śālā plans","lookup_keywords":["yāmya","saumya","purōmukha","catuḥśālā","Indra-mukti"],"quick_summary":"Gives direction-based prescriptions for one or two openings and for the four-sided hall, linking facing arrangements with outcomes such as sovereignty (Indra) and liberation (mukti)."}
Concept: Dik-niyama: alignment with cosmic guardians (dikpālas) conditions worldly success and spiritual release.
Application: Place doors/openings according to plan-type and intended outcomes (artha/aiśvarya vs mokṣa), while maintaining symmetry in catuḥśālā.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra (House-planning, directions, and architectural canons)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A four-direction compass around a house-plan showing one opening in the south/north cases, two openings east-west, and a catuḥśālā with opposing faces; Indra indicated on the east.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, compass mandala with dikpālas faintly suggested, house-plan at center with highlighted doorways, labels yāmya/saumya, restrained palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central catuḥśālā diagram with gold halo-like compass ring, small Indra emblem on the east, rich decorative borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic sheet with three subfigures (one-opening, two-opening, catuḥśālā), arrows showing facing directions, neat Sanskrit annotations.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, architect presenting a compass-and-plan to a noble patron, with inset diagrams showing door orientations and a small Indra iconography on the margin."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: saumāsyaṃ → saumya-āsyam; catuḥśālantu → catuḥ-śālam + tu; sāmmukhyāt (as transmitted) taken as sām-mukhyāt; tayorindrendramuktayoḥ → tayor + indra-indra-muktayoḥ (text uncertain).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 105 (directional rules for gṛha and śālā arrangements)
FAQs
It gives Vāstu-śāstra rules for placing and orienting entrances/openings by cardinal direction, including special guidance for a four-sided hall (catuḥśālā) with face-to-face alignment.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical technical canons—here, architectural/directional planning—showing how the text functions as a compendium of applied knowledge (Vāstu) alongside ritual and theology.
The verse links correct spatial orientation with auspicious outcomes—symbolically framed as Indra-related prosperity/sovereignty and, in a higher register, ‘freedom from Indra,’ pointing to merit that supports both worldly success and eventual liberation.